Michael Moran (Tuam)
Michael Moran (4 December 1890–24 November 1920) was commandant of the Tuam Battalion of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of Independence. He was shot dead in controversial circumstances, by members of the Auxiliary Division, on 24 November 1920.[1][2][3]
Early life
[edit]A native of Carramoneen, Tuam, County Galway, Moran was born in 1890[1] or 1891.[4] In the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising, he became involved with Sinn Féin and the Irish Volunteers.[1] He participated locally in the 1918 Anti-Conscription Campaign.[1]
Irish War of Independence
[edit]Initially involved in fundraising to buy arms,[1] as of 1919 he was in command of the Tuam Battalion of the Irish Volunteers (by then more commonly known as the IRA).[4] During the Irish War of Independence, Moran's battalion were involved in a number of engagements with the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Auxiliary Division,[2] including an ambush at Gallagh in which several RIC constables were killed.[1]
Suspected of involvement in several IRA raids in the area, Moran was arrested in October 1920 and held in Galway Gaol for six weeks before being released without charge.[2] He was subsequently rearrested and on 24 November 1920, while being transferred the short distance from Eglinton Street RIC barracks in Galway to a detention camp on Earl's Island, was shot by the members of the Auxiliary Division reportedly guarding him. While an official enquiry concluded that he was "shot while attempting to escape custody", a number of sources describe Moran's death as an example of the type of extrajudicial killing which was prevalent at the time.[1][5][6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "The Killing of Michael Moran, 24 November 1920". galwaycitymuseum.ie. Galway City Museum. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "The killing of Michael Moran - Galway city, 1920". advertiser.ie. Galway Advertiser. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Remembering Michael Moran: University of Galway marks the centenary of a campus tragedy". universityofgalway.ie. University of Galway. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ a b "The shooting dead of Michael Moran". tuamherald.ie. Tuam Herald. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Leeson, D.M. (2011). The Black and Tans : British police and auxiliaries in the Irish War of Independence, 1920-1921 (1. ed., repr. ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 52–53. ISBN 978-0199598991.
- ^ "D Company Auxiliaries depart Galway City – 19 January 1922". galwaycitymuseum.ie. Galway City Museum. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- 1890 births
- 1920s murders in Ireland
- 1920 murders in Europe
- 1920 crimes in Ireland
- 1920 deaths
- People from Tuam
- Deaths by firearm in Ireland
- Irish Republicans killed during the Irish War of Independence
- People murdered in Ireland
- Murder victims from County Galway
- Unsolved murders in Ireland
- Police misconduct during the Irish War of Independence